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J. M. WITMER. Telegraph Keys No. 230,911. Patented Aug. 10,1880.

WITNESSES: l/VVLNTOR W W S ATTORNEY N-PEIERS. PHOTO-LITHDGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. n c.

UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. \VITMER, OF QUARRYVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO S. MILTON HESS, OF SAME PLACE.

TELEGRAPH-KEY.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 230,911, dated August 10, 1880.

Application filed July 11, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. WITMER, of Quarryville, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Telegraph Apparatus and for Closing and Locking the Same, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this improved additional key is to secure a more reliable safeguard against dis- 1o placement of the ordinary horizontal turn key in use, so liable to become loose or displaced, and resulting in great annoyance to operators on that line by an accidental open or disconnected line-wire.

1 The accompanying drawings, with the letters of reference marked thereon, and a brief explanation will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section of the table and apparatus of an ordinary telegraph combination with the safety-key. Fig. 2 shows this safety-key detached and enlarged in the several parts to illustrate them separately.

I do not show the wires from the battery to 2 5 the switch-board and relay and the plug to which the battery and line-wire are connected, the one carried to the relay and the other to the operating-bolt F of the apparatus, being the connection of the line-wire L. The other 0 wire, S, from the relay to the operatingbolt D, shows the connection with the operatinglever A, button I), lever fulcrum or support E, spring a, as ordinarily arranged with a horizontal turn key and knob, O, as shown, all of 3 5 which are no part of myinvention apart from the extra or vertical lift and turn key K, having a vertical shaft, M, provided with a collar, Q, and lock-pin P, entering an open clevis, with an inner projecting point affixed to a basal washer, W. Fig. 2 shows these latter parts within a covering, N.

The vertical shaft M has a foot-plate, H and a pin, 2'. A nut-fastening may be applied, instead of riveting the end of the rod M to the plate H.

I show a rod or Wire, R, connected with the operating-bolt D, and also resting on the base or foot on the operating-bolt F, thus connect ing the two, as also with the extra or safety key, by itsforked end embracing the pint and resting on the foot-plate H. Thus this key, when operated simultaneously with the ordinary key, (shown by its button 0,) will open or close the circuit as if only the one key were used, only that this additional lock-key, by having to be raised and turned off. or on to form connection to close, afiords additional security against being meddle'd with or accidentally displaced, and thereby prevents the annoyance that often occurs on a line in stopping or cutting off communication with the line-wire.

It is this additional key, with the locking device, that I claim as my improvement as a useful and additional safeguard. Therefore What I claim, and desire to secure as my invention, is

The combination of the vertical lift and turn key MK, collar and pin Q P, washer and staple V W P within the case N, as a bearing, foot-plate H, and forked connecting-rod R, the whole arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose specified.

. JOHN M. WITMER.

Witnesses: AMOS GILBERT,

EDWIN M. GILBERT. 

